White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Photo: Google

PULSE NEWS MEXICO

The White House on Monday, March 6, called the kidnapping of four U.S. citizens in the northern Mexican border town of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, “unacceptable” and warned that it will be be monitoring the case of their disappearance closely.

The four U.S. citizens were apparently taken by gunmen after crossing over to Matamoros from Brownsville, Texas, in a white minivan with North Carolina plates on Friday, March 3, according to U.S. Embassy sources.

Sources said that the four had intended to purchase medications in a Matamoros pharmacy.

Preliminary reports indicate that the Americans were taken by members of an organized crime group in a case of mistaken identity.

During a press briefing Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden is “aware and has been informed” of the four missing U.S. citizens.

She added that the U.S. State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and Mexican authorities are now working together on the case.

“These sorts of attacks are unacceptable,” Jean-Pierre said.

“We will continue to coordinate with Mexico and push them to bring those responsible to justice.”

The FBI is now asking for the public’s help in identifying who might be responsible and is offering a $50,000 reward, the U.S. Embassy said.

In recent weeks, Matamoros has become ground zero in an ongoing turf war between dueling Mexican drug cartels.